The rain in Spain was falling mainly on the roads of Valencia this morning, flooding parts of the 30km TTT route between Benitatxell and Calpe.

As a consequence, the race judges have decided that the results will not count for the overall classification.

2018-02-02T13:43:54Z

As we join the action, the early teams have started their race, while the WorldTour teams will start later on in the afternoon.

2018-02-02T13:51:01Z

Because the stage will not count for the overall classification, stage 2 winner Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) will keep the overall race lead and the yellow jersey going into Saturday's key mountain stage.

To read our full stage report and see the photo gallery from stage 2, click here.

2018-02-02T13:55:27Z

The Nippo -Vini Fantini team is next to start under the very grey skies.

The organisers have wisely covered the start ramp in a carpet-like material to avoid anyone slipping and crashing as they roll off.

2018-02-02T13:56:59Z

Other teams are warming up under cover, though it seems space is tight for some.

2018-02-02T14:01:01Z

Valverde will no doubt be happy with the TTT being neutralised for GC. He leads many of his bigger rivals by 29 seconds. That could be enough to secure overall victory on Sunday if he can handle the climb to Cocentaina.

2018-02-02T14:02:46Z

We can see that the BMC is warming-up in what looks like a mechanic's garage. Teams have taken over what ever space they can find near the start area.

2018-02-02T14:05:18Z

Sport Vlaanderen are setting off for their ride.

The clouds are actually lifting but the roads remain wet.

2018-02-02T14:07:17Z

It is just 8C in Valencia, with strong winds blowing.

2018-02-02T14:09:29Z

Here comes the first team at the finish, with Team Euskadi finishing on the tail of the Inteja Domenican team.

2018-02-02T14:11:44Z

Alberto Contador's Polartec team finish next. Well bring the times as soon as possible.

2018-02-02T14:14:01Z

We can see Dimension Data out on the road. The roads are actually drying out and so the decision to neutralise the GC times may have been premature.

2018-02-02T14:16:32Z

Dimension Data are using TT bikes but it seems others, including Cofidis, have opted to ride on their road bikes for safety reasons.

2018-02-02T14:21:21Z

Education First-Drapac have finished.

2018-02-02T14:21:43Z

Sep Vanmarcke was keen not to take any risks before the start.

2018-02-02T14:22:35Z

Nippo-Vini Fantini is next in with a time of 29:56.

That's the fastest so far.

2018-02-02T14:24:13Z

Nippo-Vini Fantini have recently ended a training camp in Calpe and so trained on the roads. They would no doubt to win the stage after being overlooked for a wild card place for the Giro d'Italia.

2018-02-02T14:25:17Z

Next off is Katusha-Alpecin. They're on TT bikes. Will they go for it?

2018-02-02T14:26:43Z

Caja Rural set a time of 31:07.

2018-02-02T14:27:50Z

The roads are now dry in parts due to the strong wind.

2018-02-02T14:28:50Z

Burgos-BH finish in 30:04. however it depends on their fifth rider to finish.

2018-02-02T14:31:24Z

Here come Gasprom-Rusvelo. They're fast but their fifth rider is struggling to stay on the line.

They set 29:00.

2018-02-02T14:35:48Z

The AG2R team have opted for the TT bikes but LottoNL went with road bikes.

2018-02-02T14:37:46Z

BMC is also off.

2018-02-02T14:38:29Z

They are using TT bikes and could be looking to win.

2018-02-02T14:42:17Z

BMC are going hard but their technique is not perfect as they avoid huge risks.

2018-02-02T14:43:14Z

CCC Sprandi finish fast, setting 28:55.

All times are approximate due to a lack of clear timing by the race organiser.

2018-02-02T14:44:38Z

Due to seven-rider teams, times are taken on the fourth rider at the finish.

2018-02-02T14:46:03Z

BMC are using a single pace line strategy, with each riding dropping off the front after doing their turn.

The twisting course and seven-rider teams make it impossible to use a double-line strategy to today.

2018-02-02T14:46:48Z

Movistar is off, with Valverde riding in the yellow jersey. He smiles to the camera before leading off his teammates.

2018-02-02T14:50:40Z

CCC Sprandli are confirmed as fastest so far in 28:55.

2018-02-02T14:51:21Z

All the teams are on the course but there's little info on intermediate times and the ride of Team Sky.

2018-02-02T14:52:13Z

BMC is diving down the coast road, giving a view of the snow-covered mountains that will be climbed tomorrow.

2018-02-02T14:52:38Z

Bahrian-Merida finish in a time of 30:19. No risks for them today.

2018-02-02T14:54:49Z

Katusha-Alpecin is fast, setting 29:01.

The slightly uphill finish meant they finished a few seconds slower than CCC Sprandi.

2018-02-02T14:55:58Z

BMC is fastest at the 12km point, setting 13:43.

We will see how they perform in the second part of the course.

2018-02-02T15:00:03Z

Mitchelton-Scott have also avoided risks and finish together.

2018-02-02T15:00:44Z

Team Sky seem to have also opted for a conservative race strategy but BMC are not holding back.

2018-02-02T15:03:01Z

We have some traffic at the finish as AG2R catch LottoNL at the finish.

2018-02-02T15:03:39Z

AG2R set 28:30 but BMC look set to beat them.

2018-02-02T15:04:14Z

The BMC squad is packed with rouleur riders.

2018-02-02T15:04:53Z

BMC smash it, setting 27:25.

2018-02-02T15:05:46Z

BMC proved they have their TTT technique dialled in. They beat AG2R by 1:12.

2018-02-02T15:06:14Z

There are only 3 teams left to finish now.

2018-02-02T15:10:38Z

Team Sky are next in.

They clearly didn't want to take any risks today and save their legs for the weekend's decisive stages. Most of the riders were racing in leg warmers.

Astana are due in after the British super team and can almost see them up the road.

2018-02-02T15:11:55Z

Sky set a very slow time. Astana finishes on their tails and set 28:26.

The two teams actually cross the line together.

2018-02-02T15:12:47Z

Team Sky will have a time that is three minutes slower.

2018-02-02T15:13:49Z

Just Movistar are still to finish but seem unlikely to trouble BMC.

The US WorldTour team is a TTT specialist after winning other stages and the World TTT title.

2018-02-02T15:15:47Z

Movistar is about to finish on largely dry roads.

Perhaps the organisers acted too quickly by neutralising the GC after the TTT. They could have waited until the 30 minutes before the start of the TTT and then decide.

2018-02-02T15:16:15Z

Movistar finish and set 29:49. That's not a threat to BMC but Valverde will keep the leader's yellow jersey.

2018-02-02T15:16:31Z

BMC are confirmed as stage winners.

2018-02-02T15:17:47Z

BMC set a time of 27:25 for the 23.2km route. That was an average speed of 51km/h.

2018-02-02T15:19:53Z

BMC did not seem to take too many risks but their well-practiced technique allowed them to dominate.

2018-02-02T15:21:11Z

Astana finished second at 1:08, with AG2R at 1:12.

2018-02-02T15:23:19Z

Stefan Küng, Brent Bookwalter, Greg Van Avermaet, Alessandro De Marchi, Kilian Frankiny, Jurgen Roelandts and Michael Schar made up the BMC team and are about to climb on the podium as stage winners.

With the GC times neutralised due to the bad weather in the morning, Alessandro Valverde stays in yellow.

He leads Luis Leon Sanchez and Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) by four and six seconds respectively.

Wout Poels (Team Sky) is fourth overall at 29 seconds, with a group of riders on the same time as the Dutchman.

2018-02-02T15:41:44Z

Greg van Avermaet was happy to celebrate another win with his teammates.

"For us (neutralising the GC) didn’t change things for us. We prepared for the team time trial as good as possible and we came here with the objective to win the team team time trial," he said.

2018-02-02T15:42:23Z

Regarding the neutralisation of the GC e added: "It was a bit hard to make a good decision because it was raining a lot in the morning but I think when it dried up everyone just kept it safe and just go as fast as possible to the line."

"We’re not really here for GC so the most important was the stage win. We have it and so we’re pretty happy."

2018-02-02T15:50:05Z

Valverde pulled on the leader's yellow jersey on the podium after a relaxed day.

He understandably agreed with the decision to neutralise the GC standings due to the heavy rain.

"I think with how the weather was this morning, I think it was the right decision," he said.

"It’s changed this afternoon. When we started racing the first part was fine and the second part was wet a little dangerous. By then the decision had already been taken, so we had to respect it. We’re still leading the race, so we’re pretty happy."

"We tried to do it fairly well even if the time didn’t count. I think we did a decent time, of course we weren’t thinking of the GC or fighting. We just gave it a good go and do a good job.

2018-02-02T15:51:51Z

This is the first image of BMC in action from our photographers at the race.

2018-02-02T16:02:13Z

Thanks for joining us for live coverage of the TTT at the Volta a Valenciana.

That's wraps up today's live coverage.

We'll have full coverage of the decisive weekend stages of the Spanish on Cyclingnews.